Some novels seem to naturally lend themselves to movie adaptations.
Dave Eggers 2012 existentially absurd midlife crisis taleA Hologram for the Kingis one of the latter.
But when he gets there, the king keeps delaying their meeting over and over.
Its likeWaiting for Godotby the Red Sea.
Eggers book is largely interior.
Its conflict is one of the soul.
Again, not an easy movie to pull off.
He gives an otherwise downbeat story some sorely needed levity.
It shouldnt work at all, but it does.
Alan is a stranger in a strange land, which provides the fodder for the films best moments.
He forms an instant Abbott-and-Costello relationship with his laid-back local driver-for-hire (newcomer Alexander Black).
But if you squint hard enough, its also a little bit more.
